Conservational Status: Vulnerable
Scientific Name: Tympanuchus cupido
Size: Range: Found primarily in central North America; regionally extinct from Canada.
Habitat: Includes native prairie grasslands with a combination of woodland areas. Because native habitat is being converted to agricultural lands the species is adapting to native grasslands surrounded by agricultural crops.
Ecology: The population is in major decline due to a significant reduction in habitat. This species is not directly affected by global warming but human are altering their natural grassland habitat for an agricultural one. A second reason for the reduction of habitat is from grazing competition from other animals. The third reason for a population decline in these birds is due to the fact that hunting is still legal in some of the states in the U.S.
Evolution: Isolated populations of the Prairie Chicken have lead to a decrease in genetic diversity; this decrease has lead to a reduction in fertility and overall fitness of the birds. These birds require the native grasslands for breeding and reproduction. Without the native grasslands, this species will continue to decline.
